Westport voters turned out at normal rates

Updated 5:05 pm, Thursday, November 9, 2017

District 9 Representative Town Meeting candidates Kristin Schneeman, Lauren Soloff and Velma Heller hold signs outside of the Westport Town Hall on election day Nov. 7.

District 9 Representative Town Meeting candidates Kristin Schneeman, Lauren Soloff and Velma Heller hold signs outside of the Westport Town Hall on election day Nov. 7.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan /Hearst Connecticut Media

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Kings Highway Elementary School students Samantha Henske, Charlie Leahey, Caden Wilson, Will Davitt, and Henry Grossberg raise money for their 5th grade graduation in Town Hall on election day Nov. 7. "We're hoping to have a big party," Henske said. "Maybe with an obstacle course, and cake," she added. less

Kings Highway Elementary School students Samantha Henske, Charlie Leahey, Caden Wilson, Will Davitt, and Henry Grossberg raise money for their 5th grade graduation in Town Hall on election day Nov. 7. "We're ... more

Photo: Sophie Vaughan/Hearst Connecticut Media

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Megan Rutstein campaigns for her husband Greg Rutstein outside of Saugatuck Elementary School on Election Day. He won a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Megan Rutstein campaigns for her husband Greg Rutstein outside of Saugatuck Elementary School on Election Day. He won a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan /Hearst Connecticut Media

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Election signs filled the hillside in front of Westport Town Hall on election day Nov. 7.

Election signs filled the hillside in front of Westport Town Hall on election day Nov. 7.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan/Hearst Connecticut Media

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Election signs filled the hillside in front of Westport Town Hall on election day Nov. 7.

Election signs filled the hillside in front of Westport Town Hall on election day Nov. 7.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan/Hearst Connecticut Media

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Newly re-elected First Selectman Jim Marpe, R, gathers outside of the Saugatuck Elementary School polling place on election day with Rabbi Yehuda Kantor and re-elected Board of Finance member Lee Caney, D.

Newly re-elected First Selectman Jim Marpe, R, gathers outside of the Saugatuck Elementary School polling place on election day with Rabbi Yehuda Kantor and re-elected Board of Finance member Lee Caney, D.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan/Hearst Connecticut Media

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The Coalition for Westport Planning and Zoning Commission candidate, Jennifer Johnson, campaigns with a Kane supporter outsdide of Town Hall late on election night. Johnson did not win election to the commission. less

The Coalition for Westport Planning and Zoning Commission candidate, Jennifer Johnson, campaigns with a Kane supporter outsdide of Town Hall late on election night. Johnson did not win election to the ... more

Photo: Sophie Vaughan/Hearst Connecticut Media

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Democratic Second Selectman candidate Robb Simmelkjaer campaigns with his daughter and dog outside Saugatuck Elementary School on election day.

Democratic Second Selectman candidate Robb Simmelkjaer campaigns with his daughter and dog outside Saugatuck Elementary School on election day.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan/Hearst Connecticut Media

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Voters at Long Lots Elementary School in Westport, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017.

Voters at Long Lots Elementary School in Westport, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017.

Robert Harrington, of the School Budget Petition Campaign, Ellen Lautenberg, Democratic Town Committee chairman, and John Suggs, petiting candidate for First Selectman, at Long Lots Elementary School in Westport, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017. less

Robert Harrington, of the School Budget Petition Campaign, Ellen Lautenberg, Democratic Town Committee chairman, and John Suggs, petiting candidate for First Selectman, at Long Lots Elementary School in ... more

Photo: Justin Papp / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Westport Town Clerk Patricia Strauss sits in her office on election day preparing to pass over the 600 absentee ballots to the registrars of voters at 3 p.m. Strauss said, "If the the difference between the winner and loser in any given race is between 600 votes, absentee ballots become very important." less

Westport Town Clerk Patricia Strauss sits in her office on election day preparing to pass over the 600 absentee ballots to the registrars of voters at 3 p.m. Strauss said, "If the the difference between the ... more

Photo: Sophie Vaughan /Hearst Connecticut Media /

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Westport resident Charlotte Novoa rests on a couch in town hall while her Dad, Eric Novoa votes.

Westport resident Charlotte Novoa rests on a couch in town hall while her Dad, Eric Novoa votes.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan/Hearst Connecticut Media

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Gabriella Signore and Morgan Smith, both Assistant Registrars of Voters, await same-day registration voters in Town Hall Nov. 7. Smith said, "so far we've helped register 14 people who wouldn't otherwise have voted today. It's really gratifying that we not only help people vote but also register to vote." less

Jacqueline Cerone voted today in Westport Town Hall with her eight month old son Morgan Cardeamone. "Voting matters," Cerone said. "I want the best for our town."

Jacqueline Cerone voted today in Westport Town Hall with her eight month old son Morgan Cardeamone. "Voting matters," Cerone said. "I want the best for our town."

Photo: Sophie Vaughan / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Signs outside of the Town Clerk's office in Westport Town Hall encourage voting in the Nov. 7. election.

Signs outside of the Town Clerk's office in Westport Town Hall encourage voting in the Nov. 7. election.

Photo: Sophie Vaughan / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Nancy Saipe and Nicole Klein, both Westport Deputy Registrars of VOters, are busy fielding questions and calling around to the different polling places today to compile how many votes have yet been tabulated.

Nancy Saipe and Nicole Klein, both Westport Deputy Registrars of VOters, are busy fielding questions and calling around to the different polling places today to compile how many votes have yet been tabulated.

A voter checks in at Long Lots Elementary School in Westport, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017.

A voter checks in at Long Lots Elementary School in Westport, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017.

Photo: Justin Papp / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A voter checks in at Long Lots Elementary School in Westport, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017.

A voter checks in at Long Lots Elementary School in Westport, Conn., Nov. 7, 2017.

Photo: Justin Papp / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Westport voters turned out at normal rates

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WESTPORT — Pat Ducy only moved to town a year ago, but when Election Day came around, he felt he should do his civic duty.

“It was my first chance to vote in a municipal election here, so I said, ‘Why not?’ ” Ducy said outside of Long Lots Elementary School gymnasium around 1p.m. Tuesday, where voting districts six and seven vote.

Ducy was among 1,871 voters who turned up at Long Lots over the course of the day, and among 8,502 voters who came out across the town’s nine districts, according to unofficial numbers from the office of the registrar of voters.

The voters choose to re-elect Republican First Selectman Jim Marpe on Tuesday along with a slew of new members to the Board of Selectmen, the boards of Finance and Education, Planning and Zoning Commission, Representative Town Meeting and others.

Total voter turnout was on par at 47 percent of registered voters, according to Town Clerk Patricia Strauss, with other municipal elections in which the first selectman is on the ballot. In 2015, the last municipal election, 6,082 of 15,709 voters turned out, or 38 percent, by the close of polls. In 2013, the last time first selectman was on the ticket, 7,961 voted of the 16,994 registered in town, 46 percent.

In 2013, Republican incumbent Jim Marpe was elected to his first term. This year, he was challenged by Democrat Melissa Kane and petitioning candidates John Suggs and Timothy J. Elgin.

More Information

Vote totals in Westport

First Selectman

(D) Melissa Kane and Rob Simmelkjaer, 3,735

(R) Jim Marpe and Jennifer Tooker, 4,187*

(Pet) John F. Suggs, 430

(Pet) Timothy J. Elgin, 28

Board of Finance

(D) Lee Caney, 4,368*

(D) Brian E. Stern, 4,552*

(R) Andrea Lawrence Moore, 4,402*

(R) Vik Muktavaram, 4,128

Board of Education

(D) Candi Savin, 4,758*

(D) Elaine Whitney, 5,018*

(R) Karen Kleine, 4,288*

(R) Jeannie Smith, 4,188*

Board of Assessment

Appeals

(D) Elaine Arnow, 5,019*

(R) Joseph Sledge, 3,807*

Planning and Zoning

Commission

(D) Greg Rutstein, 3,660*

(D) Michael Cammeyer, 3,787*

(D) Danielle Dobin, 3,826*

(R) Jon Olefson, 3,178

Jennifer Johnson, 2,261

Greg Rutstein, 730*

Michael Cammeyer, 821*

Danielle Dobin, 845*

Zoning Board of Appeals

(D) Bernard Deverin, 4,304*

(D) Victoria Gouletas, 4,425*

(R) Thomas Hood, 3,555

Turnout in national elections is generally much higher. In 2016, 15,890 of 18,499 registered voters went to the polls to vote for president.

Around the town’s polling places — Town Hall, Coleytown Middle School, Saugatuck Elementary School, Greens Farms Elementary School and Long Lots Elementary School — candidates were seen throughout the day.

Marpe visited all five of the town’s polling locations and said, before his victory was announced, “I’m feeling great. There seems to be a great turnout in voters, which is always a great thing. It’s good to see Westport residents engaged in the voting process in an enthusiastic and informed way and to see candidates participating at the polling places.”

At 1 p.m. at Long Lots, Democratic Committee Chairman Ellen Lautenberg was there in winter jacket, scarf and gloves since 10 a.m. holding the sign for Democratic first and second selectmen candidates Melissa Kane and Rob Simmelkjaer. Robert Harrington, of the School Budget Petition Campaign was holding a sign with reading the “Golden Ticket” — candidates from varying parties that he said support Westport Public Schools.

Petitioning candidate John Suggs — who, like Democrat Melissa Kane and petitioning candidate Timothy J. Elgin, lost to Marpe — turned up at Long Lots, the last of his stops at Westport’s five polling locations.

“It seems like it’s been a good turnout,” Suggs said. “It’s a nice day for people to come out and vote.”

First-time District 2 RTM candidate Christine Meiers Schatz was campaigning outside Saugatuck and said she was running, in part, because “It’s important to see people fail. I want my kids to see Mommy out there trying and to know that even if it doesn’t work out, it’s OK.”

Election morning began on a contentious note when Megan Rutstein came to vote in Town Hall and noticed her husband’s signs were missing.

Rutstein’s husband, Greg Rutstein, a Planning and Zoning Commission candidate endorsed by the Westport Democratic Town Committee and Save Westport Now, had placed many signs listing his name, as well as the names of fellow P&Z candidates Michael Cammeyer and Danielle Dobin.

“When I got there this morning, it was strange because I knew they had put a banner up and I didn’t see any signs with any of their names,” Rutstein said. “I went in and voted and then I went back out to make sure I didn’t mistakenly not see it and I didn’t see anything, so I went back inside and people directed me towards the Registrar of Voters.”

Westport has two Registrars of Voters, one appointed by the Democratic Town Committee and the other appointed by the Republican Town Committee. Rutstein spoke with Kevin White, the RTC-appointed Registrar of Voters, who had removed the signs.

“We explained that at the time the signs were removed it was our understanding that they were not supposed to be on Town Hall property,” White said, and added, “That was later corrected.”

White did not return the signs to their former location upon learning of his mistake. “I asked where he put them and he told me he put them against the baseball field so I walked there, and there were the signs on the floor and the banner all wrapped up. I moved them back but we had no space on the hill because every spot was taken,” Megan Rutstein said.

After seeing the signs in the baseball field behind Town Hall, Rutstein spoke with White again. “I went back and talked to him and said, I’m so disappointed in this because if you realized you made a mistake, how come you didn’t then fix it?,” Rutstein said.

State Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-136, who was not up for election, was campaigning outside Town Hall around 1 p.m. this morning. “Why did White only remove Democrats’ signs?” he asked, noting that in addition to Rutstein, Cammeyer, and Dobin’s signs, White also took down some of Democratic Board of Finance candidate Lee Caney’s signs.

But, Steinberg added, “Signs don’t win elections, candidates do.”

Representative Town Meeting District 9 candidate Sal Liccione was campaigning with Steinberg and said, “This whole campaign on both sides has been disgusting. I think the temperature needs to drop after today.”